New Days, Old Demons: A Study of ElijahShembull

Can Believers Access Supernatural Power Today?

God, through Elijah, said it would not rain until God gave the word, and after three years, God said that time had come. After God defeated Ahab and Elijah destroyed the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah, the prophet knelt, likely in prayer, atop the battle scene of Mount Carmel that was believed to be the seat of the defeated demon gods.

The monsoon rain begins with a single cloud rising out of the sea, seen by Elijah’s “servant” who is mentioned for the first time. Elijah’s servant tells King Ahab that there is a narrow window to return to the palace on his horse drawn chariot before the water makes travel impossible. We are then told, “the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain”.

Amazingly, Elijah passes King Ahab as they race to escape the floodwaters that likely felt a bit like the days of Noah. Elijah the prophet outran the horse pulling the king’s chariot because “…the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.” This is a run of at least 10 miles over some rough terrain, made possible by a supernatural miracle of God.

In the life of Elijah, we see miracles. God stopped the rain for three years in answering Elijah’s prayer. At the widow of Zarephath’s house, her oil and flour supply were supernaturally renewed daily, and her dead son was brought back to life, which was a miracle that had never happened previously. On Mount Carmel, God sent fire from Heaven. Then, God sent the rain in response to Elijah’s prayer, which was another first-time miracle, and Elijah outran a horse to escape the ensuing floodwaters.

To believe the Bible is to believe in miracles. I have also seen miracles in my life – people healed, dreams while asleep, visions while awake, deliverance from crippling demonic oppression, and much more. I have also seen demonic counterfeits. Just like in the days of the Exodus where God had miracles and his servant Moses, demonic powers did counterfeit miracles by their servants under Pharaoh. Apparently, the false prophets of Asherah and Baal were accustomed to seeing counterfeit signs and wonders, which explains why they showed up expectant for the showdown on Mount Carmel. This remains true today as the same demons are at work in the world.

Since miracles are, by definition, non-repeatable, one-time events, miracles do happen, but not frequently, and sometimes are never to be repeated. This is precisely what happens at the end of Elijah’s life when God sends a chariot to pick him up and fly him first class to Heaven without ever dying.

For the believer, there is much hope in this scene of Elijah. The Great War started in Heaven when Satan and demons declared war on God and the angels. Many of the battles in Scripture and history are part of the Great War. The defeat of Baal at Mount Carmel is a foreshadowing to the end of time recorded in the book of Revelation, where Jesus will return as the greater Elijah to make war against the demonic political and spiritual leaders continuing in the spirit of Ahab and Jezebel. He will bring fire with Him and cease their ability to do evil as Elijah did to the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Just as the temporary curse of a drought was lifted after the battle, so too the curse over all creation will be lifted once Jesus wins The Great War, ending all wars. Until then, God’s people are to remain faithful like Elijah, public with our faith, bold, praying for God’s power to vindicate His fame, standing up against lies and evil, while discerning.

Look up the following times that even Jesus’ enemies testified to His supernatural miracles: John 3:2; 5:36; 10:25, 32, 37-38; Acts 2:22; 10:38.